Egg case flat and filler assembly



oct. 1, 194e. J R, GRANT 2,216,193

EGG CASE FLAT AND. ILLER ASSEMBLY y 'Filed Jam.r 2z, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 VM m11' TMNT ,w oi' the Hat.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG CASE FLAT AND FILLER ASSEMBLY Jesse R. Grant, `Chicago, Ill., assigner oi' oneeighth to Seli-Locking Carton Co., Chicago, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois Application January 22, 1938, Serial N0. 186,353

somma The presentinvention relates to the packaging of eggs in standard cases and has particular reference to the provision of an improved type oi egg case oi ilat and filler construction. 5 A principal object of the invention is the provision oi an improved iiat and-lier arrangement whereby eggs may be packaged safely inv cases without 4the necessity ot providing the customary type of extra heavy cushioning members at the w top and bottom oi the case. v

An additional object of the invention isV the provision of anY egg case flat which will effect a spacing of the fillers in an egg case and provide for a maximum oi egg-carrying space, the ilat 115 being of such construction as to provide the sole' cushioning and carrying means needed in the case. y Still another object oi' the invention is to lprovide an improved pressed or molded iiat hav- 2o ing relatively deep channels running parallel in one direction for receiving corresponding iiller strips and relatively shallow parallel channels running in the opposite direction to receive the oppositelvdirected illler strips and to space the g5 filler strips above the iiller strips of the next lower layer` in thecase. l These and other objects will be evident -upo a consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment oi the'invention and by so reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. lis a side view of an open egg case packed with iiats constructed in accordance with the present invention and the usual type of filler g5 mechanism, the view being of onlyone-hali of the case; D

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of one oi the ats shown in Fig. 1 with the filler strip in assembled relation:

Fig. 3 is an end view ot a modified form of the improved ilat;

Fig. 4 is a tcp view of the nat shown m mg.

3; and Fig. 5 is a topview o! another modiiied form In the packaging oi .eggs in cases it has been customary for some time to employ a bottom cushion member of greater thickness than the thickness of the flats which are used in the into teriorof the case' between the various layers of eggs. The intermediate layers ofthe eggs are positioned on ats which have more or less of a cushion eilect and the eggs on each ilat are maintained in proper-position by the use oi fillers of conventional construction. Customarily the illier' strips are positioned in closely adjacent verti,

ca l relation with respectto each other and form substantially continuous connections throughout the height of the case. At the top of the case another relatively thick cushioning pad is placed "3 over the eggs and the top of the case is nailed in position slightly to'compress the assembled construction together to prevent' or retard the shaklns 0f. the esas.

In accordance with the present invention there i0 is provided an assembled ilat and filler construction in which it is unnecessary to use these separate relatively thick top and bottom pads and at the same time additional room is provided for receiving eggs in the case. The construction is l5 such that the flats eilect a spacing-apart, of the illler members in the different egg-carrying layers.

-In the embodiment o! the invention shown in Fig. 1 the crate I0 represents a conventional wooden egg case of the type which holds 30 dozen eggs, a central partition il being provided to space the case into two sections each carrying ilv layers of three dozen eggs.

With the improved fiat .of the presentl inven- 11 d tion it-is not necessary to usea separate and extra large or high ilat or cushion in the bottom oi' the case'. The at shown in Figs land 2- may be formed by molding paper nbre or by compressing sheet material into the illustrated *f shape. This shape consistsoi a series oi' relatively deep channels extending in one direction, these channels being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent illler strips. In the drawings the flats indicated 35 generally at l2 are provided with a plurality of parallel relatively deep channels I3. `relativelydeep channels alternate with parallel relatively shallow channels il which preferably are shaped toreceive the end of an egg as shown in o Fig. 1 and to provide a cushion therefor. 'I'he bottom oithe relatively deep channels I3 are provided with the small reverse channels I5 which are designed to receive the upper .ends ot thezller strips 4 Il oi' the next lower layer upon -45 which the @ats are positioned. The interlock between these reverse channels] I5'and\the tops of the' filler strips retard the illler strips from being shaken relative to the fiat The oppositely extending ller strips i1 extend 50 into and form an interlock-with the depressed portions il yof the at. These channels extend in a )direction perpendicular to the channels i3 ande/are oi' substantially less depth than the lat-l ter. Aswillfbelisn'from Fig. 2,.the aligned de-` 55 pressed portions I8 form channels which are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the ller strips Il. Thus, the bases of delock with the depressed portions I8 and the filler strips I6 partially enter into the longitudinally extending channels I3. A second at is placed above the lower ller strip in the manner shown in Fig. l with `the reversed portions I5 interlocked with the upper edge of the filler strips it. A second filler vis assembled with this ap in the manner described and the vsecond layer of eggs is packed. This procedure is continued until the case is completely packed with eggs. Before securing the top of the case in place another fiat.

is placed on the top layer of eggs so that it extends slightly above the upper edge of the case, as shown in Fig. l.

A. standard egg case is approximately 121/2 inches high. Standard fillers are approximately 2% inches high, and as there are only ive of these illlers to be used in an egg case it will be seen that there exists a space of about 11A; inches which heretofore has been taken up by the extra large lower and upper cushion ats. 'I'here is, then, a considerable waste of space in the egg case. In my improved flat and ller assembly this space is utilized for carrying eggs. An assembly in which this space is so utilized is possible in the case of a at of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of about fi; of an inch height over all. This overall height is reiiected in the depth of the channels-I3. The depressed portions or creases I8, on the other hand, are of considerably less depth than the channels I3. By providing a creased or depressed portion I8 of about inch depth and positioning the ller strips I'I in this crease, it will be seen that the bottoms of the iiller strips are spaced apart approximately 1/4 of an inch from the tops of the next lower filler strips.

The relatively shallow channels I 4 may be of similar depth to the creases or depressed portions I8 and as these channels I4 carry the bottom of the eggs it is possible for the tops of the eggs in the next lower layer to extend upwardly above the filler strips Vand into the spaces below the eggreceiving channels I4. The top flat then will extend abovethe upper edge of the egg case before the top of the latter is secured in place.` When the top is securedin position the assembled fiat and fillers are compressed downwardly, thereby insuring a tight pack.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the legs of the longitudinal channels I3 are gluedtogether by an adhesive such as silicate of soda. The glue line, indicated at I9 in the drawings, extends up to approximately the lower position of the creases I8. 'Ihis glued construction is adapted for flats produced from preformed sheets by corrugating or pressing the sheets into the desired shape while wet. The glue line materially strengthens the construction and is of value where .the flat is to be used in a warm, humid atmosphere.

The at shown in Fig. 5 is of the molded type in which the egg-receiving sections 2U are round depressions of approximately the shape of the lower end of an egg andthe relatively shallow depressed portions 2l corresponding to the creases I8 extend substantially all the way across eachof the cells. In this embodiment the iillers extend into and rest against the bottom of the depressed portions 2l, and the latter are spaced above the bottom of the relatively deep channels .I3 a distance suflicient to space the fillers, provide for extra egg-carrying space and to make unnecessary the use of the heavy flats or cushions at the bottom and at the top of the case. The dimensions of this embodiment of the flats may be somewhat the same as those discussed heretofore in connection with the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be seen from .the drawings and the above description that the structure of the improved at may be changed considerably without departing from the scope of the invention. The particular dimensions specified are desirable but it is not essential that they be followed strictly. Other configurations than those shown may be used for the flats. In any case, the ats and llers are assembled in such a relation that the llers in adjacent layers are spaced apart. The

the next lower iiller, and the lower edges of thev filler strips running transversely to said members being positioned on the upper side of said ats sulciently above the lower portion of said members to provide a distance between said ats greater than the height of said iiller strips.

2. In an egg case assembly, flats and llers arranged one over the other in superimposed mutually supporting layers, said fillers being cornposed of intersecting cell-forming strips having edges in substantially the same plane, and said ats having relatively deep downwardly extending members running substantially parallel to certain of said filler strips and being positioned on the upper edges of the next lower ller and relatively shallow interrupted grooves on their upper side running transversely of said members and parallel to certain other of said ller strips, the lower portions of said grooves being in a higher plane than the lower portions of said members, said other filler strip being positioned in said grooves in vertically spaced relation to the next lower ller.

3. vA at and filler assembly comprising five vertically spaced strip fillers of the type having intersecting edges in the same plane and six only duplicate ilats, one of said ats being positioned on top of said llers, another of said ilats being positioned below said llers, and the remaining ats being interposed between saidiillers, said interposed flats being provided with means engaging the lower edges of upper llers and other means engaging the upper edges of lower llers and for spacing all of the lower edges of the strips of each of said fillers above all of the upper edges of each of the lower fillers a distance greater than the thickness of the material of the ilat andv sunlciently great to compactly lill an egg case, and egg seats positioned above said other means.

`4. In an egg case assembly, six only counterpart flats and five fillers arrangedin mutually supporting relation in superimposed layers, said yllers being composed of intersecting strips hav-` lng edges in substantially the same plane, spaced supporting means for eggs on said flats, means on the lower side of said flats substantially below and between said supporting means for engagingy the upper edges of the next lower ller, and other means on the upper side of said flat between said egg-supporting means for engaging the lower edges of the next upper ller, said filler-engaging means on the upper and lower sides of said flat respectively being constructed and spaced apart sufliciently to space the upper and lower edges of adjacent fillers apart vertically a distance greater` ,n lower edges of filler strips when positioned thereunder, and upstanding egg seats the lower portions of which are positioned above said lower means and the upper portions of which are positioned above said upper means, said upper and lower filler engaging means of said ilats being spaced vertically suiciently to provide between adjacent flats a greater amount of egg receiving l space than the height of said iiller strips and to edges in substantially the same plane, said ilats having relatively low downwardly extending portions engaging the upper edges of said fll1ers.`

relatively high supporting portions engaging the lower edges of illlers positioned thereon, and egg seats positioned above said downwardly extending portions, and said downwardly extending portions and said supporting portions being spaced apart vertically sumciently to provide suiliciently more vertical space between said ats `than the height of said fillers to compactly fill an egg case in which said assembly is loaded.

7. An egg case ilat, comprising a molded pulp member having relatively low downwardly extending portions for engagement of the upper edges of a iiller positioned therebelow, relatively high supporting portions for receipt of the lower edges oi' a illler positioned thereon, and egg seats having their bottoms above said downwardly extending portions and their tops above said supporting portions, said downwardly extending por- Qtions and said supporting portions being spaced apart vertically a distance sufficient to provide more egg receiving room between superimposed ilats than the height 'of fillers positioned between said superimposed ilats and to compactly lill a standard egg case when six of said" ats are assembled with :tive llers.

8. A-iiat of substantially uniform sheet thick-` ness throughout. "said flat having portionsy adapted to be engaged 'by edges of -a standard strip type liller having sets of intersecting strips the upper edges of all of which terminatefin one plane and the lower edgesof which all terminate in another plane, when said ller is positioned upon the upper side of the iiat and other portions adapted to be engaged by edges of a simiy lar standard strip type ller when positioned on the lower sidel of the flat. egg seats positioned upon the upper side of the ilat, the bottoms of which terminate in a plane above those portions of the iiat adapted to be engaged by the il'ller when positioned below the nat, said upper and lower filler strip engaging portions being spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the material of the ilat and-of such magnitude that six of the flats maybe assembled with five interposed standard fillers in the compartment pf a standard egg case to compactly fill the same and to provide greater height between egg seats than the height of the associated ller.

JESSE R. GRANT. 

